England’s Piers Francis has been cited for a dangerous tackle during yesterday’s 45-7 Rugby World Cup defeat of the USA.
The incident took place just seven seconds into the Pool C encounter in Kobe when Francis put in a hit on Will Hooley from the kick-off.
He appeared to make contact with the full-back’s chin with his left shoulder, but no action was taken by the officials.
Commenting on ITV, World Cup winner Lawrence Dallaglio said the Northampton man “had got away with one”, while a number of people took to social media to express similar views.
Now, having been cited, Francis will go before a disciplinary hearing in Tokyo on a date yet to be confirmed and faces a potential ban.
The match in Kobe had seen the first red card of the World Cup, with USA flanker John Quill given his marching orders for a shoulder to the head of Owen Farrell, who was left with a bloodied nose.
Francis is the fourth player to be cited over incidents where red cards were not issued on the pitch.
Australian winger Reece Hodge and Samoan centre Rey Lee-Lo have both been banned for three weeks for dangerous high tackles, while Lee-Lo’s team-mate Motu Matu’u is yet to learn his fate.
